A methamphetamine shipment with a street value of about $15.6m was discovered in three consignments of 180 tins of liquid glue from Mexico.
According to a statement from the Australian Border Force (ABF), the 26 kilograms of illicit drugs were seized following a joint operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the ABF and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
“Operation Shepody” began after these three consignments were referred to the AFP for investigation and on October 13, the AFP conducted a controlled delivery of the consignments to an address in Edgecliff, NSW.
A 45-year-old Auburn man, a 41-year-old Miranda man and a 49-year-old Pendle Hill man were subsequently arrested on Thursday 24 November, after the AFP raided premises in Auburn, Pendle Hill and Miranda.
AFP acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Sheehan, National Manager Crime Operations, said the AFP, along with its partners, arrested three men and stopped almost $16m worth of a very harmful substance.
“Law enforcement agencies will continue to work together to target those who believe they are above the law,” he said.
“My message to those contemplating bringing these dangerous drugs into our country is that you will get caught, regardless of how creative your concealment method.”
Of the three arrested in the operation, the 41-year-old Miranda man has been charged with:
- Attempt to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine; and
- Importation of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine.
The 45-year-old Auburn man and 49-year-old Pendle Hill man have been charged with:
- Attempt to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine.
The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.
